Characteristics of Pine Needles and Soil as a Passive Sampler of PAHs in Atmosphere

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Research article

Journal of the Korean Society for Environmental Analysis 2010;13(4):237-244.

대기 중 PAHs의 Passive Sampler로서 소나무잎과 토양의 특성

천만영

한경대학교

Abstract

This study was carried out to find the characteristics of polyaromatic carbons (PAHs) deposited on pine needles and soil, which were used as a passive sampler of atmospheric PAHs and persistent organic pollutants (POPs), collected at different three sites. PAHs concentrations of lower molecular weight accumulated in pine needles were high and showed large difference at each site. However, those of higher molecular weight accumulated in needles were low and showed small difference at each site. PAHs concentrations in soil were higher than those in pine needles, especially PAHs concentrations of higher molecular weight in soil were greater than those of lower molecular weight and showed large difference at each site. PAHs concentrations in soil depended on organic constituents of soil. PAHs concentrations in soil relied on PAHs concentrations in air rather than organic concentration, in the case the concentrations of organic constituents were over certain level. Therefore, young pine needles would be better as a passive sampler of atmospheric PAHs for short monitoring period after considering the characteristics of accumulation, but soil which has similar organic matters is better for long monitoring period.

Key Words: PAHs, atmosphere, pine needles, soil, passive sampler